Lindsay Snustad

the outdoors, and family. And the rest is history.”

The Snustads moved to Missoula, Montana in 2002, where Andrew was attending courses for his master’s program, and also working as a teaching assistant. Lindsay was hired at Missoula’s Salvation Army, as the director of social services.

Back to Minnesota – A Great Place to Raise a Family

In 2004, the couple moved to Duluth, choosing the city for its outdoorsy lifestyle and close proximity to family. Andrew got a job teaching Spanish at a few local colleges (FDLTCC and UMD), and Lindsay worked at the Women’s Health Center, later transitioning to Planned Parenthood, where she remained for seven years.

Lindsay and Andrew have three children: Taitum, nine; Averi, seven; and Jake, four. They completed their family with the adoption of a sweet tabby cat named Olive. The Snustads live in East Duluth, and the children attend Congdon Park Elementary.

“One of the reasons we love Duluth is the ease and simplicity of raising children here,” Lindsay shares. “We aren’t stuck in traffic, and everything is close.” The family enjoys spending time at Chester Bowl ski area, and the kids are involved in sports and music lessons.

When she isn’t working, Lindsay loves playing soccer, reading, sewing, and watching documentaries. One of her favorite ways to unwind is with a refreshing apricot wheat beer from the Brewhouse. She volunteers at Chester Bowl and in her children’s classrooms.

Transitioning from People to Animals

When the former executive director of Animal Allies, Rick Sailstad, retired in 2014, Lindsay jumped at the chance to lead the organization. “Un fortunately, I didn’t have the opportu nity for a mentorship with Rick, but I did meet with the Animal Allies board before I got started,” she says. “Luckily, this wasn’t my first rodeo; I’ve always worked in the non-profit sector, and in a variety of leadership roles. And I have always loved animals.”

Since she started as leader of Animal Allies, Lindsay has shown great vision and purpose, working closely with Daryl Yankee, the director of operations. A few of the initiatives she has created or improved upon include:

• Puppy training classes — offered to community members and their dogs, as well as shelter pups

• Improvement of the foster program — allowing more free space in the shelter for homeless animals

• Creation of the “Healing Hearts and Paws Fund” — a grant to pay for medical services for shelter pets

• The addition of another annual fundraiser — the Fitger’s Frozen Fundraiser

• Continuation of the “Campaign to Zero” — Animal Allies’ initiative to eliminate the euthanizing of healthy animals

• Building strong partnerships — with other animal shelters and local veterinarians

Some of Lindsay’s other professional pursuits include membership on the Industrial Organizational Psychology Board at UMD. She is also pursuing a fund development certificate from UWS which will benefit Animal Allies in the future.

Lindsay would like her career legacy to include not only serving underprivileged people and animals, but also supporting women in leadership roles. “It’s so important for me to advocate for women,” she says. “I want my daughters to be raised as strong, principled women. I feel so lucky to have been born at a time when women in leadership are recognized and appreciated.” D

To learn more about becoming a member/supporter of Animal Allies, and for more information about this year’s Walk for Animals (June 4), visit animalallies.net.

A community of caring

At the Benedictine Living Community of Duluth, we are dedicated to serving the community by providing a full range of living options and care services. Our campus includes:

• Short-Term Care and Rehabilitation

• Long-Term Care and Respite Care

• Westwood Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care

• Marywood Enhanced Assisted Living

• Early Childhood and Preschool Education

• Adult Day Services

• Outpatient Rehabilitation Services and Onsite Fitness Center

Can you really retire if you don’t have a bazillion saved?

Yes, and people do.

We know women on average live longer than men and have far less saved and invested usually because we earn less. Time out of the work force costs us in less social security and retirement contributions.

So, if you don’t have a pile of money socked away, how will you retire?

Let’s do the math. This is how many advisors ballpark it: take your total amount saved/invested. Plan to remove 4 percent a year.

So on $500,000, that’s $20,000. On, $100,000, it’s $4,000. Along with any pensions and social security, can you live on that?

No? Or don’t have $500K invested? Consider this:

• Something IS better than nothing. Start stashing cash and IRA investments, if you qualify. Every little bit helps.

• Work until you are 70 – or beyond – if at all possible. Find something you don’t hate to do, and the sooner the better. Then, even after 70, plan to work at least part-time for as long as you are physically and mentally able. If you complain about work, change your mindset now. Believe